In October of 2015, I watched a man beg for twenty minutes as not a single car opened a window for him. He stood there painfully, seeking diabetes medication for his feet after recently ending up on the street.

Many urban citygoers continually confront homelessness. We are caught without time, cash in hand, or wherewithal on if cash will help. “I want to help. I’m unsure how.” These and other barriers lead to the easiest response: do nothing.

And so, individuals without shelter are told hundreds of times an hour that they don’t exist. This invisibility—this relational poverty—can create mental illness. And it costs our city dearly.

But here’s the good news: we outnumber them. There’s hundreds of thousands more Seattleites with housing and resources than there are without. It may not feel tangible how you can change the outcome of someone on the street; imagine you and 19 friends teaming up to take care of that person’s needs. Samaritan exists precisely to provide this response.

When you learn someone’s story and choose to invest in their life, the person can spend your money at partnered, helpful businesses or through a nonprofit counselor. Redemptions include warm clothing, fresh produce, a good haircut and more.

Each month, the beacon holder has the opportunity and responsibility to meet with a counselor to keep their beacon active. The counselor helps them gauge progress, develop spending plans, and access new opportunities. These touchpoints have resulted in transformational referrals, employment, and even housing.

We don’t own any apartment buildings or shelters. And so if we can’t guarantee everyone a physical house yet, we’ll begin by providing anyone a social home. It’s not about “changing the world”; it’s about changing someone’s world, right now. And that’s a start.